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US4706960A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fields of law and legal process card and board game apparatus

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-11-18
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Granted: 1987-11-17
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Expires: 2005-11-18
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Abstract

Abstract A combined card and board game consisting of over 205 fields of law, legal categories, including legal lexicon, legal terminology and legal processes involving quetions and/or statements and responses. The game includes a board which consists of four pluralities of spaces with indicia which relate to indicia on the cards and spinner and represent legalcategories of law utilizing the alphabet and numerals, a plurality of sets of cards consisting of legal knowledge and information, a rectangular card box, a spinner and gamepieces. The game board is comprised of marked spaces and pathways whereby players move gamepieces in attempt to advance to the winner's/Dean's circle by correct response at his respective turn according to applicants' game rules. The game simulates graduation from law school, receiving an L.L.M., and/or passing the bar and provides an educational, entertaining, teaching, testing and competitive game of chance and legal knowledge. The players will learn and become aware of law, legal rights and duties through a competitive game board method based on random selection or player's discretion.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert S. Nowacki
  • 👤 K. Kristine Nowacki

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 16:30
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F11/00; A63F11/0011; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00138

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 336 words
A legal educational game apparatus to teach, test, entertain, allow chance, choice and competition and expose law comprising in combination: a. a gameboard having a plurality of spaces located thereon, said plurality of spaces forming an outer playing path, a middle area and a plurality of inner playing paths that connect the outer playing path to the middle area, b. a first plurality of spaces in the outer playing path each containing indicia, c. a second plurality of spaces in the outer playing path each containing indicia, d. a third plurality of spaces in each of the inner playing paths each containing indicia, e. a fourth space representing the middle area and containing indicia, said first and second spaces comprising substantially all of the spaces located on said outer playing path, the indicia on each first and second space being different from the indicia on all other first and second spaces, f. a plurality of sets of cards, each card having identifying indicia thereon and each set being comprised of cards having the same identifying indicia thereon, the identifying indicia on the cards in one set being different from the identifying indicia on the cards in all other sets and the identifying indicia on the cards corresponding to the indicia on said first and second spaces, such that the indicia on each one of said first and second spaces corresponds to a different category of legal topics, the different categories of legal topics being represented by the various sets of cards, each of said cards also having response soliciting indicia thereon, whereby players attempt to give the correct response to the indicia presented on the cards, g. a rectangular card box designed for holding said plurality of sets of cards aligned next to one another in continuous rows, h. a chance means for each player at his respective turn to develop by chance or choice an identifying factor, i. player locating means in the form of moveable elements for indicating a player's location upon sad gameboard.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 336 words
A legal educational game apparatus to teach, test, entertain, allow chance, choice and competition and expose law comprising in combination: a. a gameboard having a plurality of spaces located thereon, said plurality of spaces forming an outer playing path, a middle area and a plurality of inner playing paths that connect the outer playing path to the middle area, b. a first plurality of spaces in the outer playing path each containing indicia, c. a second plurality of spaces in the outer playing path each containing indicia, d. a third plurality of spaces in each of the inner playing paths each containing indicia, e. a fourth space representing the middle area and containing indicia, said first and second spaces comprising substantially all of the spaces located on said outer playing path, the indicia on each first and second space being different from the indicia on all other first and second spaces, f. a plurality of sets of cards, each card having identifying indicia thereon and each set being comprised of cards having the same identifying indicia thereon, the identifying indicia on the cards in one set being different from the identifying indicia on the cards in all other sets and the identifying indicia on the cards corresponding to the indicia on said first and second spaces, such that the indicia on each one of said first and second spaces corresponds to a different category of legal topics, the different categories of legal topics being represented by the various sets of cards, each of said cards also having response soliciting indicia thereon, whereby players attempt to give the correct response to the indicia presented on the cards, g. a rectangular card box designed for holding said plurality of sets of cards aligned next to one another in continuous rows, h. a chance means for each player at his respective turn to develop by chance or choice an identifying factor, i. player locating means in the form of moveable elements for indicating a player's location upon sad gameboard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 295 words
A game apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a. said first plurality of spaces allow for access and advancement to said second plurality of spaces, b. said second plurality of spaces allow access and advancement to said third plurality of spaces, c. said third plurality of spaces allow players to advance forward, backward or remain stationary depending on the stage of the game, and wherein access and/or advancement to said third spaces is dependent upon chance, choice, risk, position and correct response by a player located on said second plurality of spaces, said third plurality of spaces allowing for access and advancement to said fourth space, d. said fourth space containing indicia differing from other said pluralities of spaces representing conclusion and simulation of graduating from law school, receiving an L.L.M. and/or passing the bar, or continuation of the game at the player's discretion, the latter option requiring subsequent access to said third plurality of spaces, whereby said fourth space designates a decision-making, competitive and risk aspect of game, access and advancement to said fourth space contingent upon chance and correct response and mandatory predefined game-rule prerequisites, e. wherein said categories of legal topics include legal processes, case law, over 205 fields of law, legal categories, individual state laws, federal law, international law, case precedents, legislative history, legal terminology, executive, judicial and/or legislative branches and/or processes, treaties, statutes, substantive and/or procedural law, comparative legal processes, legal aspects and variations of law contained therein and legal lexicon, f. wherein said chance means is used to determine a particular corresponding space on the game board to which a moveable element is to be moved or to choose a category of legal topics, or not be utilized at all depending upon which plurality of spaces the player is on.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 113 words
A game apparatus of claim 1 wherein a. said response soliciting indicia comprises questions requiring answers, answers requiring questions, multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank, name the missing element, matching, yes/no, finding an error in a statement of law, or identifying an issue of law, or a combination thereof, and wherein said categories of legal topics include legal knowledge encompassing, law, legal processes, case law, over 205 fields of law, legal categories, individual state laws, federal law, international law, case precedents, legislative history, legal terminology, executive, judicial and/or legislative branches and/or processes, treaties, statutes, substantive and/or procedural law, comparative legal processes, legal aspects and variations of law contained therein and legal lexicon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 93 words
A game apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a. said chance means has indicia thereon corresponding to the indicia on said first and second, plurality of spaces on said game board and coinciding with the identifying indicia on said cards, whereby said chance means determines a particular space corresponding to said game board to place said moveable elements with respect to said first and second plurality of spaces or alternatively, said chance means is used to select a particular category of legal topic when a player is located on one of said third spaces.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-11-16 1991-05-18 1991-11-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-11-16 1995-05-18 1995-11-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-11-16 1999-05-18 1999-11-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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